Barbara Nolan gets comical for kids
By Kirk Titmuss
WEWEBJIWANG, LITTLE CURRENT – “I’m so happy. I’m so happy to be doing what I’m doing,” gushed Barbara Nolan, Anishinabek Nation Anishinaabemowin E-niigaanwidood (Anishinaabemowin Commissioner).
In fact, the popular Anishinaabemowin teacher was almost giddy with excitement as she shared an upcoming event with those gathered at the Zaagitoodaa Gdinwewininaa Nkweshkidaadiwin (Love Our Language) Meeting held in Little Current on February 14, 2024.
The event was put on by Anishinaabemowin Boodawe Committee in partnership with the Anishinabek Nation’s Anishinaabemowin Department and the Anishinabek Education System – Kinoomaadziwin Education Body (AES-KEB). The Anishinabek Nation’s Anishinaabemowin Department’s mandate is to support the revitalization, maintenance, and protection of Anishinaabemowin. It also encourages Anishinaabe communities to plan activities that provide opportunities to engage in the language through family and life-long learning experiences. Nolan enthusiastically let attendees in on a project she has been working on since January. She said it is something she has wanted to do for years and was spurred into action by observing her grandson enjoying a children’s educational cartoon on TV.
“I wished all the time there was a little cartoon or somebody character something speaking in the language you know, just like, what’s that lady’s name, Ms. Rachel, like her.”
Ms. Rachel is an American social media personality, songwriter, educator, and YouTuber, with millions of followers, who creates “toddler learning videos”.
“I thought, why don’t I make those little videos? Little four-minute videos, short videos. Make them available for free to daycare or whoever wants to watch them.”
Nolan’s wish has finally come true. She has been working with Esbikenh, an Anishinaabe grade three teacher in Walpole Island First Nation who creates illustrated characters and videos in Anishinaabemowin for children.
“I got sponsorship for 10 videos now. We did 20. We did 20 little videos when I went there just after New Year’s. So, he’s working on them and you’re going to have fun showing them to your class.”
Esbikenh has turned Nolan into a cartoon character who leads children through adventures and activities teaching Anishinaabemowin along the way. She laughed as she acted out her character’s introduction in the videos.
“He’s (Esbikenh) already got the entry part. I come sliding in sideways like that, in my ribbon skirt. It’s a comic and made of me. I’ve got that white little piece over there of my hair. So, you know it’s me. I’m just getting excited.”
Nolan mimed her character’s actions from one of the videos planned for the series.
“My friend (Esbikenh) is going to make a box appear. I’ll put my hand in there and grab something (she plays with an imaginary ball). So things like that you will see in those little videos. So, the kids will catch on. ‘Oh, she found a ball in the box. She threw it and she caught it.’”
She says she is going to invest in some needed equipment to speed up the story creation process and develop more content for her series.
“I’m going to buy myself a green screen so I can do more at home and I’ll just compile those videos up and I’ll take them to him (Esbikenh) or send them to him somehow. That’s what I want to do.”
She also hopes to hold an event to introduce her videos sometime in the spring. They will eventually be profiled on her website barbaranolan.com and on social media where teachers and children can access them and learn the traditional language in a colourful and comical way.
Esbikenh is a teacher, and creator of animated videos on Walpole Island First Nation.